<div dir="ltr"><div><div><div>Dear all<br><br>If you haven't already done so, there is still time to respond today to the BBC Charter Review. Note, for local TV and community radio in particular, Question 12 of the consultation asks :<br><br>"Should some funding be made available to other providers to deliver
public service content?"<br><br>It's easy to complete the response form on line here:<br><div><a href="https://www.research.net/r/bbconlineconsultation" target="_blank">https://www.research.net/r/bbconlineconsultation</a><br><br></div>Or email to:<br><a href="mailto:BBCCharterReviewConsultation@culture.gov.uk" target="_blank">BBCCharterReviewConsultation@culture.gov.uk</a><br><br></div>Below is what we have sent in from Sheffield Live! Feel free to copy or adapt.<br><br></div>Best wishes<br><br></div>Steve<br><br>//<br>1. How can the BBC’s public purposes be improved so there is more clarity about what the BBC should achieve?<br>The BBC’s public purposes should distinguish between PSB content which the BBC delivers directly and funding through the BBC to other providers of PSB content, for example, the current arrangements with S4C and local digital television programme services. The BBC is not best placed to directly provide all types of PSB content. In particular local PSB content, and PSB services for the nations and regions may be appropriately supported through the BBC acting as a funder and/or purchaser of PSB content.<br><br>2. Which elements of universality are most important for the BBC?<br>The most important elements of universality for the BBC are the provision of UK-wide radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain. Local content services, and services for the nations and regions may be better supported by the BBC acting as a funder and/or purchaser of PSB content.<br><br>3. Should Charter Review formally establish a set of values for the BBC?<br>The core values of the BBC should be coded in the Charter<br><br>4. Is the expansion of the BBC’s services justified in the context of increased choice for audiences? Is the BBC crowding out commercial competition and, if so, is this justified?<br>The public interest is best served by fostering a plurality of content, channels and media ownership, including commercial and not-for-profit providers outside of the BBC. A balance must therefore be struck between the BBC’s provision of services of general and specialist interest and the provision of a range and diversity of services by other providers. The BBC should not introduce new services for delivery of local content where other models of PSB content delivery may provide greater local ownership and local accountability, such as local and community radio, TV and online services.<br><br>5. Where does the evidence suggest the BBC has a positive or negative wider impact on the market?<br>The BBC has a largely positive impact on national standards and quality of content however, at regional and local level, BBC services may have some negative impact by reducing the viability of independent services which could offer better models for local ownership, accountability and content delivery. For local and regional services the BBC may better support PSB content as a funder or content purchaser.<br><br>6. What role should the BBC have in preparing for the future technological landscape including in future radio switchover?<br>The BBC has played a central role to play in the development of new technologies especially distribution platforms. It should continue to maintain a leading role in broadcasting technologies while being mindful of the need for BBC support for new platforms to be inclusive and available to other content providers. <br><br>7. How well is the BBC serving its national and international audiences?<br>The BBC serves its national and international audiences reasonably well however it is less well placed to serve local and regional audiences. Local TV and community radio, together with online providers of local media content providers may be better placed to deliver PSB content to local audiences.<br><br>8. Does the BBC have the right genre mix across its services?<br>The BBC achieves a reasonably good genre mix however a great range and diversity of content could be achieved by devoting more airtime to independence production including local content producers.<br><br>9. Is the BBC’s content sufficiently high quality and distinctive from that of other broadcasters? What reforms could improve it?<br>BBC broadcast content is of a high quality and much of it is distinctive. Local and regional content, however, could be better developed by the BBC acting as a funder and/or purchaser of PSB content.<br><br>10. How should the system of content production be improved through reform of quotas or more radical options?<br>The independent production quota may contribute to diversity of content but is open to manipulation by hiving off existing BBC units as independent production companies. The purpose of independent production quotas should be to support a dynamic independent production sector as a source of PSB content. The local TV sector represents a new and vibrant network of grass-roots production companies across the UK, delivering PSB content, including local news, of a form and quantity never before seen in the UK. The BBC should continue to nurture the development of these new local content providers. <br>There is a strong case for the introduction of a quota requirement for out-sourcing local news content from independent companies. Local TV is for the first time in UK broadcasting history, capable of supplying content to its own audiences and to BBC regional TV news programmes. Community radio could perform a similar role. A quota for the purchasing of local news from such providers should be established and adopted throughout the UK to support a range and diversity of local news content.<br><br>11. How should we pay for the BBC and how should the licence fee be modernised?<br>The licence fee remains the best system for funding the BBC.<br><br>12. Should the level of funding for certain services or programmes be protected? Should some funding be made available to other providers to deliver public service content?<br>The funding arrangements for local television have demonstrated a successful economic and content sharing partnership between the BBC and independent local broadcasters which has provided a much needed stimulus to local news provision. For many of the new local television channels this arrangement has proved vital to the viability of providing a local broadcast news service and has contributed to the wider goals of increasing the range and diversity of PSB content available to local audiences.<br>There should be explicit acknowledgement in the BBC’s public purposes that the BBC has a role not only in direct delivery but also in funding and purchasing from other providers of PSB content, including but not limited to news content. This is currently the case for S4C and local digital television and these arrangements should continue to be protected through agreement in the framework of the Charter renewal. It is not appropriate for the BBC’s funding of other licensed broadcasting services to be left solely to the discretion of the BBC. The current arrangement for S4C and local television could be extended to community radio to support additional supply of local news and other PSB content.<br><br>13. Has the BBC been doing enough to deliver value for money? How could it go further?<br>The BBC has taken significant steps to improve value for money including removing some layers of management and relocating some of its operations to Salford. The BBC could do more through funding and/or purchasing of local content from independent producers, local TV and community radio, which are mainly self-managed organisations without the costs of a centralised management hierarchy.<br><br>14. How should the BBC’s commercial operations, including BBC Worldwide, be reformed?<br>Deliberately left blank – no answer submitted.<br><br>15. How should the current model of governance and regulation for the BBC be reformed?<br>There should be explicit acknowledgement in BBC governance arrangements of the BBC role in funding and purchasing from other providers of PSB content, including but not limited to news content, and that such arrangements should respect other providers editorial independence and management autonomy.<br><br>16. How should Public Value Tests and Service Licences be reformed and who should have the responsibility for making these decisions?<br>Deliberately left blank – no answer submitted.<br><br>17. How could the BBC improve engagement with licence fee payers and the industry through research, transparency and complaints handling?<br>Deliberately left blank – no answer submitted.<br><br>18. How should the relationship between Parliament, Government, Ofcom, the National Audit Office and the BBC work? What accountability structures and expectations, including financial transparency and spending controls should apply?<br>Deliberately left blank – no answer submitted.<br><br>19. Should the existing approach of a 10-year Royal Charter and Framework Agreement continue?<br>Yes. A 10-year cycle should continue.<br><br>20. We'd really appreciate it if you could tell us a little but about yourself. Please select the boxes that best describe you below.<br><br>Submitted on behalf of :<br>Sheffield Local Television Ltd (operating Sheffield Live TV, local TV channel for Sheffield)<br>Commedia Sheffield (operating Sheffield Live! 93.2fm community radio)<br>Sheffield Community Media Ltd<br></div>